Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Lexington Sellers, We Have Seen and Heard About Real Estate Deals
That Didn't Go Well Because Of Something The Homeowner Said. Don't
Make These Mistakes...

1. We Spent Lots of Money On Updates ~ Do you
really think a buyer will care what you spent to update your house? After all,
they will offer you what may be the market value when they buy the
house.

2. Our House Is Nicer Than Our Neighbors ~ A buyer
is going to compare your house to similar homes in the area, and they don't
want to hear your comments about other homes.

3. My House Is Going To Sell Immediately ~ And
then what will you say when months go by and your house is still on the market?

4. You're Not Going To Find A House As Nice As Mine ~ How
do you know this? Are you looking at the same homes the buyers are?

5. I'm Not Giving My House Away ~ Be realistic in
pricing your home. The competition could be fierce and you don't want to turn
buyers away for fear that you're not willing to negotiate.

6. You're Not Going To Find Anything Wrong With
Our House ~ This could eventually be a
costly mistake. A home inspector may finds things that a buyer may
want repaired. Even brand new construction can have it's problems.

7. I Don't Want To Move, But I Don't Like The
Neighbors ~ Do I have to explain this one? (Actually at a showing last
week, we heard this one...)

8. We Don't Have Too Many Problems In The Neighborhood ~
This is one of the reasons we ask our sellers to leave while their house is
being shown!

9. The House Is To Small For Us ~ Buyers may think
it will be too small for them too, and may look at larger homes for a growing
family.

10. Are You Making An Offer Now ~ Don't put a
buyer on the spot. They will discuss your house with their Realtor, and if
interested, their buyer agent will present an offer to your listing agent.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Founded
in 1970 in the U.S. as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth
Day is now a globally celebrated holiday.

Earth Day
is this Tuesday, April 22. Although it's a great reminder to be environmentally
conscious, there are plenty of simple ways you can celebrate the earth all year
long. Here are just 10 ways you can be eco-friendly long after Earth Day is
over:

1. Plant a tree: Trees produce oxygen and
help reduce air pollution. A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants
a year, and produce nearly 260 pounds of oxygen, according to the
nonprofit American Forests.

2. Recycle reusable materials: The
average person generates more than four pounds of trash every day and about 1.5
tons of solid waste per year, according to DoSomething.org.

3. Donate or recycle used electronics: Electronic
waste includes computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic devices
in working or non-working condition that are no longer used.

4. Cut back on driving: Use public transportation,
organize a carpool, ride a bike or walk whenever possible. Leaving your car at
home two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of
1,600 pounds per year, according to the Center for Climate and Energy
Solutions.

5. Reduce your energy use: Unplug electronics when
you’re not using them. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used
to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off,
according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

7. Buy locally: The average meal in the
U.S. travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate, according to the Center
for Climate and Energy Solutions.

8. Clean up the earth: More than 51 billion pieces
of litter land on U.S. roadways each year, and litter cleanup costs the nation
almost $11.5 billion each year, according to the nonprofit Keep
America Beautiful.

9. Explore the outdoors: Get to know your community
better and explore the beauty of nature. Go for a walk, run or hike with
friends and family, or a group.

10. Participate in eco-friendly activities: Earth Day
is April 22, but many people extend the celebration to make it Earth Week.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Schedule subject to change - please check back closer to
Patriots' Day for the final schedule

Saturday, April 16

9 AM -4 PM Battle Green Guided Tours - free
Official Lexington Battle Green Guides in Colonial clothing offer
informal tours, history, visitor information and directions throughout the
day. Stand where the local Militia faced the British Regulars at sunrise
on April 19, 1775. View one of the oldest war memorials in the country where
the remains of 7 of the 8 Militia who died on the Battle Green on April
19th are buried.Lexington Tourism
Committee

10:00 AM Parker’s Revenge - free
Lexington Minutemen gather on the Lexington Battle Green to reenact the second
call to arms from Captain Parker with additional dialogue from Reverend
Jonas Clarke.
Following this event the Minutemen will march to Parker’s Revenge site on Route
2A near the Minuteman National Park Visitors Site for a wreath
laying.

10 AM - 4 PM Lexington Alarm Letter on View - free
Couriers delivered the news of the conflict at Lexington throughout the
colonies soon after the event. See one of the letters that helped spread the
news, penned on April 20, 1775.
The Alarm Letter will be on view from Saturday, April 2 - Saturday, April 23.
The Museum is open Wednesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PMScottish Rite Masonic Museum
& Library, 33 Marrett Road

Thursday, April 7, 2016

If you want to sell your Lexington home this spring season,
good news! It’s a great time to sell. Recent reports show that pending home sales have reached their highest level in seven months, and homes have reached
peak value in many markets. That means that buyers are out, and sellers are
selling for a price they can be satisfied with.

As a Lexington real estate agent, I want to also take this
opportunity to share why you should use an agent to help you sell your Lexington home,
rather than trying the for sale by owner (FSBO) approach. KCM Crew recently
shared the top five reasons why you should not FSBO, and I’ve summarized these
reasons for you here:

1. Too many people to negotiate with – Unless you’re a
professional at negotiations, you should leave it to a real estate professional
to do the negotiating for you. Otherwise, you’ll have to negotiate with buyers
who want the best deal, buyer’s agents who solely represent the best interests
of the buyers, buyer’s attorneys, home inspection companies and appraisers.

2. Exposure to prospective buyers – Studies have shown that 89
percent of buyers today search online for a home, but only 20 percent look at
newspaper ads. As a Lexington real estate agent, I can ensure that your home
listing shows up everywhere a potential buyer might look. Often, you can’t even
get your listing posted to these places without an agent’s
help.

3. Results come from the internet – We know buyers search the
internet, but where do they find the home they end up purchasing? Studies show
that 44 percent find it on the internet, 33 percent from an agent, and then 9
percent from a yard sign and 1 percent from a newspaper. As you can see, it’s
very important for your listing to be all over the internet, and to have an
agent spreading the word!

4. FSBO has become more difficult – Selling your own home today
is even harder than it used to be. The paperwork involved has dramatically
increased with mandatory industry disclosures and regulations. It’s a mighty
headache if you don’t work in the real estate industry and know exactly what
paperwork you need to fill out and when! This is a huge reason why FSBOs have
dropped from 19 percent of sellers to 8 percent.

5. You net more with an agent – Let’s talk about the most
important reason to not FSBO. Many sellers think they will save money by
selling without an agent, because they won’t have to pay commission. However,
homeowners who sell with an agent typically sell for an average of almost
$40,000 more than sellers who sell FSBO. Agents have negotiating power, more
buyers will see your listing, and we have the experience to get the job done
correctly!

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

How has the typical American home evolved over the last
fifty years? Robert Dietz, the chief economist at the National Association of
Home Builders recently spoke with Real Estate Today Radio about home design
trends that have come and gone, and those that will be here to stay.

While buyers both then and now prefer single-family homes in
the suburbs, buyers in 2016 expect new homes to be adaptable, open, and
efficient.

When it comes to future design preferences, Dietz predicts
that buyers will place a high-importance on choosing a new home that has
efficient design and energy efficient features. "Energy efficiency is the
key item with new construction over existing-homes is the home itself uses
energy more efficiently, costs less to maintain and operate."

Dietz also believes that location will play a larger part in
where buyers choose to build, and single-family home sales will soon take over
multi-family. "We may see a rise in townhomes and locations near urban
villages with walkability features, but overall the same preferences that have
been in the market for generations will remain. Most people want to own their
own home and want their own place out in the suburbs, and I think that will
continue."

Let's take a look at the main design differences between
homes then and now.

New-home design characteristics in 1966:

The average home size was much smaller than today.

The one-story homes were popular with builders and buyers.

The kitchen, dining room, and living rooms were all
separate.

Laundry rooms were located in the basement.

The efficiency of home features was not a big consideration.

New-home design characteristics in 2016:

The average size of the home keeps growing, mainly because
builders are catering to a higher-income, older demographic.

60 percent of new homes have at least two stories. The need
for multiple levels is due to millennials wanting more space for their growing
families, and also because of the increase in multi-generational households.

Open-floor design is the new norm across all generations of
buyers.

New home construction emphasizes energy efficiency and
efficient design.

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As a real estate agent in the Lexington, MA area, I have the privilege of living and working in this amazing area. Each week, you can count on me for market updates, local events and what's happening in the area!

Please contact me if you have any questions about buying, selling or the Lexington, MA area. I am here to help!

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Many of the Greater Boston suburbs represent some of Massachusetts' most desirable living environments, blending remnants of picturesque farmland and sprawling open spaces with truly elegant estates and charming neighborhoods.
Regardless of where you settle in Boston’s attractive suburbs, you can look forward to an exceptional quality of life in one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan centers.